By Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

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On Sunday August 27th, the CBA Copperhead organization held their PBR Scout Day at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC.  A gorgeous day, the Copperhead players ran through a full workout in front of PBR's staff and college coaches. 

Each position player ran through a full style workout, running a sixty, taking a live BP on the field, and going through an individual defensive workout.  Statistics were taken on exit velocity off the bat, arm speed from the defensive position, and pop times for catchers.  Pitchers threw a controlled bullpen for PBR staff and coaches, allowing them to feature their repertoire, showing stuff and command. Each player attending the scout day will have their PBR profile updated with their updated statistics, an evaluation, and video from the workout.

Carter Sheppard (2019, RHP, Lake Norman HS) is a physical presence on the bump with strength and quickness in the body.  The arm speed that produced an 89 mph bolt from the outfield is not present on the mound yet, but it may be coming soon.  Griffin Gardner (2019, RHP, Cox Mill HS) also presents strength on the mound with a fastball reaching 87 from a quick high-3/4 slot.  Each pitcher in the Copperhead organization is profiled below.

CLICK HERE for the full roster from the CBA Copperheads Scout Day

CLICK HERE for the complete statistical report from the Scout Day

CBA Copperheads Scout Day Quick Hitters
+ 42 players participated in the Scout Day
+ 28 pitchers threw bullpens
+ 36 position players completed the workout
+ 2020 OF Christian Thomas ran a PBR NC Event record 6.59 sixty (laser timed / hand started)
+ 15 hitters posted an exit velocity of 80 mph or better
+ 7 players ran better than 7.30 in their sixty
+ 9 pitchers touched 78 or better off the mound
+ Players ranged in graduate years from 2018 - 2021

PItcher Analysis

 

Blake Anderson RHP / 1B / JM Robinson, NC / 2021 Strength in an average frame at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds.  Average arm speed from a short arm swing with a high-3/4 release.  Tall through balance, will roll through creating some effort for the arm to catch up.  Choppy delivery, works level and on-line.  Fastball was erratic, up in the zone at times, sitting 71-73.  Slows the arm slightly on the change up.  Does create some arm side run at 61-65.  Breaking ball has loose, gradual 12/6 spin ranging 55-56. Right handed hitter is set to create some uphill leverage, loading the hands down.  Uses a leg kick to set the weight.  Rotational on the back side with a pull conscious swing.  Average barrel awareness.  Strong hands.  Exit velocity up to 81.  At first base, plays with high hips, sitting on the ball with average hands.  Long arm stroke to an over-the-top slot.  Some accuracy at 70 mph across the infield.   Ran an 8.36 sixty.

 

Luke Anderson LHP / OF / JM Robinson, NC / 2021 Average build at 5-foot-7, 155 pounds.  Some feel for the strike zone from all three pitches.  Fastball worked down zone at 61-64 from an over-the-top slot.  Tall through balance, using normal effort, as the shoulder works level.  Slight tuck at balance, head works back to a vertical position prior to release.  Lands on-line, falling to the 3B side on his finish.  Breaking ball has gradual 10/4 tilt at 55-58.  Similar window to his fastball.  Change-up sat 58-60, slowing the arm.  Straight, it worked down in the zone.  Ran an 8.44 sixty.

 

Jesse Ashenfarb LHP / 1B / Cox Mill, NC / 2020 Lanky athlete with a high ceiling.  Stand 6-foot, 170 with plenty of room for maturity and added strength in the body.  Simple delivery with good head stability and an average leg kick.  Short, controlled arm swing works to a high-3/4 slot.  Fights for extension on release, working to leverage down hill angle.  Fastball ranged 72-76, touching 78.  Straight, showed feel for the arm side.  Breaking ball sat 62-63 with gradual 1/7 action.  Flashed sharp tilt when carried to the glove side.  Most stayed to arm side as the arm speed did not match fastball.  The change-up ranged 70-72, still maturing and becoming consistent. Left handed hitter starts balanced and crouched.  Loads back using an early stride to set the launch position.  Inside-out swing lacking some barrel awareness.  Works to gain uphill leverage through the zone.  Exit velocity peaked at 77.  Fluid feet and average hands at 1B.  Transitions the ball from a vertical position to a long arm swing and high-3/4 slot.  Arm speed of 70 from the position.

 

Patrick Brennan RHP / 3B / Lake Norman, NC / 2019 Average build with a thick lower half at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds.  Fastball is heavy at 73-75, touching 78.  Erratic at times.  Average leg kick off a small rocker step, the head is stable.  Lacks some backside rotation and extension, the arm works to a high-3/4 slot.  Works on-line.   Change-up has some fade with good arm speed at 71.  Breaking ball ranged 65-69 with short downer action.  Good hand speed creates some deception.  Some feel for the zone with the curveball, missing down occasionally. Right handed hitter is open, loading back with a flat bat head.  Has leverage in a level swing with rhythm.  Works gap-to-gap.  Exit velocity peaked at 82.  Some stiffness on the infield, fighting for rhythm in the feet.  Long arm action and high-3/4 slot shows accuracy at 79 across the diamond.  Ran an 8.15 sixty.

 

Landon Evans RHP / OF / South Iredell, NC / 2020 Average build at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds with length in his levers.  Long arm swing, turns the ball over early, working to an over-the-top slot.  Front side and head clear early to make room for the slot.  Loose body and hips.  Fastball played straight, in the zone, at 69-72.  Some rhythm working on-line, with some effort.  Breaking ball is early and gradual with 12/6 tilt at 54-57.  Slows the arm on his change, ranging 62-64.  Decent athlete with quickness.  Ran a 7.08 sixty.  Right handed hitter is balanced, loading back with the front arm barred.  Short stride with an early touch down, wants extension, staying on the back side.  Loose, has some feel for the barrel.  Exit velocity up to 82.  Fluid to the ball with athleticism on slow exchanges.  Long arm arc to an over-the-top slot.  Has accuracy.  76 mph out of the hand from right field.

 

Griffin Gardner RHP / 1B / Cox Mill, NC / 2019 Rankings  State Rank:122 POS:36 Strong build with definition in the lower half and broad shoulders.  Stands 6-foot-4, 190 pounds with room left in his ceiling.  Fastball ranged 83-87 with good feel to his arm side.  Hard run on pitches to the arm side.  Quick arm works to a high-3/4 slot.  Slightly coiled at balance, with level shoulders.  Lands on-line rotating to the 3B side on his finish.  Slider is short with late sharp 10/4 tilt at 73-77.   Lacks some extension on the pitch allowing it to have a hump at times.  Shape is distorted when working to bury it.  Change has occasional arm side action at 73-74.  Arm slows a bit on the pitch.

 

Grayson Huneycutt RHP / OF / Mount Pleasant , NC / 2018 Solid build at 6-foot, 184 pounds.  Fastball is straight but works with angle when on time.  Pitch ranges 80-81 from an over-the-top slot.  Long arm swing has some effort fighting for the slot.  Front side uses a glove point to set the line.  Level, lands on-line.  Breaking ball sat 69-70 with good feel for the strike zone.  12/6 shape with a slight hump out of the hand and gradual action.  Change-up may play as second pitch with run and fade from deceptive hand speed.  Ranging 71-74, there is feel for location on the pitch.

 

Bryce Johnston RHP / OF / Mooresville, NC / 2020 Length in a 6-foot-2, 140 pound frame.  Young frame that can continue to add size and strength.  Fastball ranged 72-75, touching 77 and 78 late in the bullpen.  Straight, there is feel for location and some pitch-ability with the fastball.  Long arm swing is loose, working to an over-the-top slot.  Tall trough balance with normal effort, working for extension.  Level and on-line at foot strike.  Change up has good hand speed, sitting 66-69.  Feel for the zone exists.  Curveball sat 67-68, flat at times with gradual arc.

 

Jordan Little RHP / OF / Hickory Grove Christian , NC / 2021 Lanky 6-foot-2, 145 pound frame.  Plenty of maturation ahead.  High ceiling with some present feel.  Quick arm works through a long, loose, arm swing to a high-3/4 slot.  Smooth delivery works on-line.  Fastball has down hill angle at 75-77, touching 78.  Occasional run to the arm side.  Breaking ball acts as a slurve, hard at 65-67.  Sharp, late 10/4 action from good hand speed.  Around the zone with his breaking ball.  Average feel for a straight change at 66-68. Left handed hitter works from a balanced, tall base, using a weight shift back and leg kick to load.  Short stride.  Level through the zone, there is looseness.  Swing occasionally cuts off extension.  Average barrel awareness.  Exit velocity of 82.  Soft hands, works from an athletic position on the infield.  Fights for rhythm in the feet.  Low, clean exchanges get to a loose, high-3/4 slot.  Some accuracy from the infield and outfield.  Arm speed topped at 78 from right field and 77 from the infield.

 

Joe Muhonen RHP / Central Cabarrus, NC / 2019 5-foot-10, 195 pound righty works with above average quickness in his arm.  Long, loose arm swing gets to a ¾ release point, with some effort.  Fastball sat 77-80.  Good feel for locating to the arm side.  Occasional cut when working to the glove side.  Two different breaking balls with a short cutter sitting 74.  Curveball is sharp at 62-65 with 11/5 action coming from a similar slot as fastball.  Change has good action to the arm side, with sink and fade at 75-76.  Level over the rubber, there is some rhythm in the delivery.  Lands slightly closed at foot strike.  Around the zone, pounding the arm side with all three pitches.

 

Carter Sheppard RHP / OF / Lake Norman , NC / 2019 Definite dual potential as he continues to develop.  Strong, with length in the frame at 6-foot-5, 185 pounds.  Good presence on the mound.  Quick arm works to an over-the-top release with normal effort.  Fastball is straight, but heavy at 81-83, touching 84.   Breaking ball has late 11/5 action at 63-65.  Maintains hand speed on breaking ball showing some feel for location.  Choppy rhythm, works level, landing on-line and finishing to the 1B side at times.  Average leg kick with some stiffness in the hips.  Straight change works with good hand speed, measuring 73-76.  Quickness and strength exists.  Ran a 7.00 sixty and exit velocity measured at 90 off the barrel.  Balanced from the right side uses a short stride and wants extension.  Strength over quickness in the swing.  Works gap-to-gap.  Some stiffness but ball jumps when on barrel.  Arm really carried from the outfield at 89 mph out of the hand.

 

Jack Shryock RHP / OF / Hough, NC / 2020 Loose strike thrower stands 6-foot-1, 165 pounds.  Length in the limbs with room to add strength in the future.  Commands the down zone with a straight fastball at 72-74, touching 75.  Some rhythm, working level and landing on-line.  Uses a glove point to set his line.  Front side does open quickly at times.  Long arm stroke is loose to a high-3/4 release.  Breaking ball comes from a slowed arm at 59-62 with 11/5 action.  Change up plays as second pitch now, ranging 66-69 with occasional sink.  Good command of glove side on the change with deception from the hand speed. Quickness exists, running a 7.28 sixty with a good burst off the line.  Arm speed peaked at 79 from right field from a long arm swing and over-the-top slot.  Lacked some accuracy on throws.  Right handed hitter is open and tall to start.  Uses a leg kick to load the swing, sinking to a slight crouch.  Bat head sets in a lagged position at launch.  Rotational on the back side, working to stay level and in the middle of the field with average barrel awareness.  Exit velocity of 77.

 

Nathan Smith RHP / 3B / Pine Lake Preparatory, NC / 2021 Average 5-foot-10, 140 pound frame.  Around the zone with all three pitches.  Fastball played straight, with occasional arm side run.  Ranged 68-71.  Long arm swing gets to an over-the-top slot.  Some effort in the release.  Some rhythm, shoulder can tilt uphill for leverage as the foot strikes on-line and square.  Two different breaking balls.  Curveball ranged 59-61 with inconsistent shape.  Working for 12/6 arc as the shoulders fight to get back down hill with arm speed.  Cutter is small with a short darting action at 64.  Change up works out of a slower arm speed at 60-62.  Occasional sink to the pitch.  On the infield, the ball can get deep in stance as the hands have some effort through the catch.  Exchanges to an over-the-top slot with some accuracy at 66 mph across the diamond.  On the right side, wide, balanced stance with a vertical bat.  Shot stride, staying level through the zone.  Opposite field approach with some head discipline.  Strength should come with age.  Exit velocity up to 76 mph.  Ran an 8.06 sixty.

 

Zach Zedalis RHP / Cox Mill, NC / 2019 5-foot-10, 175 pounder has feel from multiple slots.  Over-the-top there is a quick arm showing feel for fastball and breaking ball.  Fastball sat 77-80, heavy at times, working the down zone.  Some rhythm, works on-line.  Athletic delivery with a high leg kick and looseness in the body.  Breaking ball from the top slot ranged 62-65.  Sharp, downer action at times, works with similar hand speed to fastball.  Drops down to a side arm release with the fastball sowing some arm side action at 73-74.  Feel for location to the arm side.  Same balance point for both slots, tucking the head slightly as he works down the line.  Breaking ball wants to sweep but fights for clean rotation at 61-63.